Envelope-closer



(No Model.)

D. I. BYERS; ENVELOPE 01.0000.

No. 420,020. Patented Feb. 4, 1000.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID I. BYERS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ENVELOPE-C LOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,620, dated February 4, 1890.

Application filed May 4, 1889- Serial No. 309,618. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID IVAN BYERS, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelope-Closers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invent-ion, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a suitable tool to be used for closing envelopes. It provides means for the wetting of the gluecovered edge of the open flap, and also for the pressing down of it after closing the letter. It is especially useful in large establishments with large correspondence, where the repeated licking of envelopes is very disagreeable and the pressing down with the finger mostly imperfect and often soils the envelope.

In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings the tool is shown while used for wetting the envelope. Fig. 2 shows it while used for pressing down the'fiap. Fig. 3 shows a modified way of construction.

5 is the sponge-holder, consisting, preferably, of a bifurcated piece of metal of two wires, which either hold the sponge between them by their own elasticity of pressing together, or by means of a lock-hand 6 sliding up and down on them.

7 is the sponge. 8 is the holder for the press-roller, forming at its two outer extremities the bearings for the same.

9 is a handle common to sponge-holder and holder for press-roller and connecting both.

The press-roller 11 is best formed of a piece of rubber tube slipped over a metallic rod to stiffen it, and which at its ends has the journals whereby the whole is held in the holder 8.

The tool may be constructed as shown in Fig. 1, having a wooden handle, or as shown in Fig. 2,consisting of one piece of metal bent and twisted, or as shown in Fig. 3,where two wires are twisted together,which may be bent at 10, doubled on each other, and again twisted to conform to the shape as shown in Fig. 2. Before used the sponge is of course moistened.

Outside of the disagreeable feature inherent to direct mouth and hand use and already mentioned, the same labor may be performed with much more rapidity. With one sweep the gum is moistened, the flap turned over, and with a final stroke of the quickly-turned tool the roller presses the same down. The roller is long enough to take in the Whole of the envelope with a straightstroke, and a particular following of the configuration of the flap,like in direct finger use, is not necessary.

I am aware that press-rollers have been and are used for many other purposes-as, for instance, in the mounting of photographs. In that case the place of my sponge is taken by a broad roller surmounted by a paste-receptacle. This of course cannot be regarded as an equivalent and could never be used for my purpose, for the reason that while moistening the small glue-covered margin of the flap of the envelope the broad roller would wet almost the whole envelope, the press -r0ller passing over this wetted surface would also get wet, and by its subsequent use help in soiling and soaking the already overly-wetted envelopes. In my tool the moisture is applied only on the particular spot needed and-"the press-roller is always kept dry. 4

I claim as new 1. In a tool for closing envelopes, the combination of a press-roller, a holder being provided with bearings for the same, a spongegt sponge-holder consisting of two elastic prongs holding the sponge in position by their contracting pressure, and also permitting of its removal, and a handle common to press-roller holder and sponge-holder, all as shown and described.

2. In a tool for closing envelopes, the combination of a sponge-holder and a press-roller holder with press-roller, the two consisting of a continuous piece which is bent, doubled back on itself, and twisted, so as to form a handle for the two, as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

D. I. BYERS. Witnesses:

CARL SPENGEL, FRANCIS M. RIDDLE.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 420,620.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 420,620, granted February 4, 1890, upon the application of David I. Byers, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for an improvement in y Envelope-Closers, an error appears in the printed specification requiring the following correction, viz: In line 31 the word of after the word metal should read or and that the said Letters Patent shonld be read With this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 11th day of February, A. D. 1890.

CYRUS BUSSEY, Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

[SEAL.]

Gountersig ned:

O. E. MITCHELL,

I Commissioner of Patents. 

